University of Colorado Boulder Requirements for Admission

Choose Your Test

What are University of Colorado Boulder's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

GPA requirements

Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements

Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into University of Colorado Boulder and build a strong application.

School location: Boulder, CO

This school is also known as: Colorado

Admissions Rate: 80%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at University of Colorado Boulder is 80%. For every 100 applicants, 80 are admitted.

This means the school is
lightly selective. The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet University of Colorado Boulder's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

University of Colorado Boulder GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.62

The average GPA at University of Colorado Boulder is 3.62.

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.62, University of Colorado Boulder
requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need at least a mix of A's and B's, with more A's than B's. You can compensate for a lower GPA with harder classes, like AP or IB classes. This will show that you're able to handle more difficult academics than the average high school student.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Most schools require the SAT or ACT, and many also require SAT subject tests.

You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to University of Colorado Boulder. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application.

University of Colorado Boulder SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1188 (New: 1250)

The average SAT score composite at University of Colorado Boulder is a 1188 on the old 2400 SAT scale. (According to our records, this school requires only Reading and Math, so this score is out of 1600.)

On the new 1600 SAT, this corresponds to an average SAT score of 1250.

This score makes University of Colorado Boulder Competitive for SAT test scores.

University of Colorado Boulder SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1150, and the 75th percentile New SAT score is 1370. In other words, a 1150 on the New SAT places you below average, while a 1370 will move you up to above average.

Here's the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:

Section

Average

25th Percentile

75th Percentile

Math

620

570

690

Reading

31

29

34

Composite

1250

1150

1370

University of Colorado Boulder SAT Score Analysis (Old 2400 SAT)

The 25th percentile Old SAT score is 1070, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1300. In other words, a 1070 on the Old SAT places you below average, while a 1300 puts you well above average.

Here's the breakdown of old SAT scores by section:

Section

Average

25th Percentile

75th Percentile

Math

604

540

660

Reading

584

530

640

Composite

1188

1070

1300

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

University of Colorado Boulder has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit.

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1300, University of Colorado Boulder will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1300 to 2100 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and University of Colorado Boulder forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1070, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will surely give you the highest Superscore possible.

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University of Colorado Boulder ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, University of Colorado Boulder likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 27

The average ACT score at University of Colorado Boulder is 27. This score makes University of Colorado Boulder Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

However, in our research, we found that University of Colorado Boulder does in fact offer an ACT superscore policy. To quote their Admissions Office:

Your highest scores are used in the admission decision. If you take the same test more than once, we combine your scores on each subsection to give you the highest overall score.

Superscoring is powerful to your testing strategy, and you need to make sure you plan your testing accordingly. Of all the scores that University of Colorado Boulder receives, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all ACT test dates you submit.

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

Even though the highest ACT composite you scored on any one test date was 20, University of Colorado Boulder will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 20 to 32 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and University of Colorado Boulder forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 24, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the ACT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will surely give you the highest Superscore possible.

Studying for the ACT instead? Want to learn how to improve your ACT score by 4 points?

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Both the SAT and ACT have a Writing section that includes an essay.

University of Colorado Boulder considers the SAT/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

SAT Subject Test Requirements

Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.

We did not find information that University of Colorado Boulder requires SAT subject tests, and so most likely it does not. At least 6 months before applying, you should still doublecheck just to make sure, so you have enough time to take the test.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average. Aim for a 1070 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

What are your chances of admission at University of Colorado Boulder?

Chances of admission with these scores:

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.

Note: This is only an estimate for the average student, based on data collected from thousands of students. Other factors in your application may come into play, such as extracurriculars and recommendation letters.

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Try to take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program, or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of University of Colorado Boulder here.

Admissions Office Information

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in University of Colorado Boulder, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to University of Colorado Boulder.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are more selective and have higher scores than University of Colorado Boulder. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for University of Colorado Boulder, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If University of Colorado Boulder is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

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